With a Fine Disregard for the Rules of Football

RUGBY

Brief History

• Founded in 1823 at The Rugby School, William Webb Ellis.

• First match played in the was on May 14, 1874 between Harvard University and McGill University of Canada.

• According to Sport and Fitness Industry Association rugby is the fastest growing sport in the USA. Currently 115,000 registered players with USA Rugby.

Visibility • Collegiate Rugby Championship in partnership with NBC Sports has been played every year since 2010 in Philadelphia. • HSBC World Sevens Series held every year since 2004 with the last 5 years being in Las Vegas. • 2018 Sevens will be held in . • English Premiership Rugby has signed a new contract with NBCSN to broadcast rugby matches in the United States. • Americas Nations Cup televised on ESPN2. • February 4 USA Eagles vs Uruguay in San Antonio, TX. • February 11 USA Eagles vs Brazil in Austin, TX.

Visibility –continued

• “Rugby Weekend” coming to Chicago in November 2016 . • November 4 USA Eagles vs Maori All Blacks. • November 5 New Zealand vs Ireland. • 2016 launched Pro Rugby with 5 teams: , , Sacramento, , San Francisco. • Expansion planned to 8 teams for 2017. • Houston has plans for a pro team with plans to join Pro Rugby or independent Texas League. • Groundbreaking on new stadium should begin in 2017.

Youth Rugby in Houston

• Regis • Katy • The Woodlands • Western Academy • Lanier Middle School • The British School of Houston • Pearland Youth Rugby • HISD has adopted rugby as part of its PE curriculum • GHCAA has agreed to sanction rugby as it did from 1994-2009

Rugby at Regis

• Regis has a rich history in the GHCAA with 11 Catholic School Championships and 2 state titles. • Regis is the longest continuous middle school program in the state of Texas, 1994-present. • Regis is well represented in high school rugby mainly at St. Thomas and Strake Jesuit. Regis Alumni

• Four Regis alumni have been invited to USA Eagles High Performance camps: Chris Lind, Ross Hill, Byron Henry and Reed Hogan.

• Chris Lind and Byron Henry were selected to represent their country as U- 17 and U-19 Eagle Selects.

• Regis Alumni Paul Carty, Theology teacher and Head Rugby Coach at Boston College High School won back to back Massachusetts state championships in 2014-15 and 2015-16.